Page 31 of Vapor's Blaze

Crow approaches as Siege lifts up a fresh cut for him to wear, one that doesn’t say prospect anymore.

Siege holds it out to him and states proudly, “My father started this club many moons ago. Back then there was only Tank, Dutch, and Rigs standing at his side. The three of them performed miracles that the rest of us can only imagine. Claw was a leader with an upstanding moral character who had a vision of opening an MC where young brothers could find mentoring to last a lifetime. The result of that dream is the Savage Legion MC. He taught me the importance of brotherhood and the value of being involved in something bigger than myself. I’m glad that you see the value in that, Crow. My old man knew we were all stronger together than separately. I hope the Savage Legion MC becomes an enduring part of your family, as it has mine.

Crow reaches out and takes the cut that Siege offered. “I would be real proud if my sons ended up joining the Savage Legion when they’re old enough.”

Siege leans forward and says, “You have to make some sons first. You realize that, right?”

Crow grins at him, “I’m actually working on that, prez.”

Siege extends his hand, “Welcome aboard, Crow. I’m proud to have you in our club.

Siege turns to address the room with a smile. “I’m going to go ahead and call an abrupt ending to today’s meeting. As always when a new brother gets patched, we’ve got drinks laid out, and Harvey has been busy in the kitchen.”

Tank, Rigs, and several more men step forward to congratulate Crow. I can tell that he’s absolutely thrilled to be part of the club.

Before I can get up to greet him, my brother is all over me again. “I want to know exactly what went down with King’s granddaughter. How much heat are we going to take for this? Do you think they will come after our shop?”

I hate the way he rapidly fires questions at me. I motion toward the side door. “Let’s get out of here so we can talk privately.”

We slip out unnoticed and walk out to the far side of our club’s property. There is a small utility building. We climb up on it and make ourselves comfortable. This has always been our perch when we want to get away because it gives us a bird’s eye view of everything going on around the back of the building, a bit like my water tower hideaway.

Haze sighs, “Just talk to me brother. Being out of the loop when danger is near triggers my anxiety.”

I start at the beginning. “Remember when I said I was going to grab a beer with Dexter?”

“Don’t tell me you stood him up for King’s granddaughter.”

“Oh, hell no. It’s just that the plan was never to get coffee. It was always to go to a trance music party. It turned out to be a rave.”

My brother rolls his eyes so hard he fell dramatically onto his back with a resounding thump.

“Careful you fool. We don’t know stable this old roof is.”

“Get on with the story before I die of boredom.”

“The quick version is that I met Trix there but had no idea who she was, other than a really cute one-night stand.”

“Fucking great,” he grumbles.

“If you want me to tell you the story, shut the fuck up and let me get it out.”

He props himself up on one elbow and motions for me to continue.

“She’s really nice. Nothing like you would imagine King’s granddaughter being. She’s beautiful, warm, caring, and so fucking responsive. I couldn’t get enough of her, right up until her brother came bursting into her apartment. I thought at first that he was her old man because she shoved me out the window. To say I was pissed would be a gigantic understatement.”

“Yeah, didn’t you recognize Tracker’s voice though?”

“You try thinking rationally when you’re tryin’ to pull on your pants before your woman’s old man finds you,” I retort.

“Fair enough,” Haze says with a grin on his face. My brother is sure enjoying my tale of woe.

“When I left, I saw a bike with Hounds colors, but I didn’t know which man it belonged to. So when Rigs started looking for brothers to stake out the Hounds’ clubhouse, I volunteered, hoping to see that bike again and figure out who it belonged to.”

I take a puff off my vape, and watch the clouds move above my head for a moment, before continuing, “I was helping out at the bar one night when Trix came in and had a blow out with Tracker. I figured he was her old man, but when I caught up with her afterward, she said he wasn’t, and swore he was an old friend. I only found out he was her brother when I was doing surveillance the other day, that’s when I also learned that King was a depraved asshole who plans on trafficking his own granddaughter to the son of the Grave Diggers’ president in order to cement an alliance between their clubs.”

Haze frowns, “Who even does that kind of shit these days?”

“King, apparently,” I respond irritably.

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